News

Two Injured in Early Morning Crash

A Macon County woman and her son were seriously injured in a one-vehicle accident on Long Creek Road in Lafayette, during the early morning hours of Saturday, September 5th, 2009.

Connie Harrison, of Point Lane, who was behind the wheel of a 1997 Dodge Caravan was traveling north on Long Creek Road with her son, Phillip Harrison, when she lost control of the vehicle driving off the right side of the roadway. The van then struck a culvert and preceded across the lawn of Dorothy Meador, hitting a Bradford Pear tree while overturning and barreled through a fence before coming to rest on the roof in an open field.

While the son was completely ejected, his mother was only partially ejected and when the vehicle caught on fire, he pulled her to safety. Even though the Lafayette Fire Department was called to the Long Creek location, the fire was extinguished before an engine arrived.

According to Deputy Michael Veatch, Mrs. Harrison was unresponsive at the scene and Mr. Harrison was complaining of back and neck pain. Both were air lifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

There was considerable property damage at the crash site, noted Deputy Larry West, including the fence, which belonged to Roger Minchey.

Those responding to the scene included the Macon County Sheriff’s Department, EMS, Rescue Squad, the Lafayette Fire Department and the THP.When contacted by telephone on Sunday morning, a Vanderbilt Hospital spokesman stated that Mrs. Harrison was in the trauma unit and was listed in critical condition. Her son has been released.

Officer Terry Seay, of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, was the investigating officer. Charges are pending.